W&L Downs Emory & Henry on Late Field Goal

EMORY, Va. – Senior placekicker Peter Alston (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Academy) booted a 40-yard field goal as time expired to lift Washington and Lee to a 17-14 win over Emory & Henry in ODAC football action on Saturday afternoon at Fred Selfe Stadium.

The Generals (5-1, 2-0) took a 14-7 lead with 10:36 left in the game when senior quarterback Charlie Westfal (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) hooked up with junior running back Russell Stewart (Elkin, N.C./Elkin) for a 55-yard touchdown. However, the Wasps (4-2, 1-1) responded with a 61-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Kyle Boden to senior wide receiver Adrian Jordan with 5:48 left to tie the game at 14-14.

Stewart fumbled the ensuing kickoff on the W&L 27-yardline, but the Generals forced a fumble by Boden just two plays later and sophomore safety Mitchell Thompson (Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School) recovered on the W&L 21-yardline with 4:47 remaining.

W&L proceeded to march 56 yards over 12 plays, setting up Alston's game-winning attempt with four seconds remaining.

The Generals carried a 7-0 lead into the halftime break following a 4-yard touchdown run by junior running back Brett Murray (Lookout Mountain, Tenn./Baylor School) with 12:08 left in the second quarter. The Wasps tied it with a 2-yard touchdown run by junior running back William Pearl with 12:26 left in the game, setting up the late game flurry.

Washington and Lee, which had an average starting field position of the 15-yardline, gained 506 yards led by Westfal, who completed 13-of-18 passes for a season-high 214 yards and one touchdown. Westfal was intercepted in the end zone in the third quarter, his first interception since the third game of the 2010 season. Westfal also gained a career-high 121 yards on the ground, carrying 20 times. Heinsohn rushed 18 times for 77 yards and Murray carried 13 times for 61 yards and one touchdown. He also snared five passes for 40 yards. Stewart had two catches for 58 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore tight end Alex Evans (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) caught three balls for 69 yards.

E&H gained 470 offensive yards led by Boden, who completed 18-of-28 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown (1 INT). Jordan caught five passes for 160 yards and one touchdown, and Pearl rushed 13 times for 108 yards and one score. Junior defensive back Tyler Houk led the Emory & Henry defense with a game-high 15 tackles and one interception.

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it travels to Randolph-Macon for a 1:00 pm contest.